Questions and Answers
What are traits?
What is heredity?
The passing of traits from parents to offspring.
What is genetics?
Scientific study of heredity.
Who is known as the Father of Genetics?
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What are chromosomes?
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What is a gene?
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What are alleles?
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What is a dominant allele?
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What is a recessive allele?
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What is probability?
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What does homozygous mean?
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What does heterozygous mean?
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What is genotype?
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What is phenotype?
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What is a Punnett square?
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What is codominance?
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What is chromosome theory of inheritance?
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What is reproduction?
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What is a zygote?
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What is meiosis?
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What does RNA stand for?
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What is mRNA?
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What is tRNA?
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What is a mutation?
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Study Notes
Key Concepts in Genetics
- Traits: Distinct physical characteristics that can be observed in organisms.
- Heredity: The transmission of traits from parents to their offspring, a fundamental principle of genetics.
- Genetics: The scientific discipline focused on the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.
Historical Context
- Gregor Mendel: Recognized as the Father of Genetics for his pioneering work on inheritance patterns in pea plants, laying the groundwork for modern genetics.
Molecular Basis of Genetics
- Chromosomes: Structures located in the cell that contain DNA; key components for genetic inheritance.
- Gene: A specific segment of DNA that encodes a particular trait or characteristic, arranged in a specific sequence or pattern.
- Alleles: Various forms of a gene that can exist at a given locus on a chromosome.
Alleles and Inheritance
- Dominant Allele: An allele that masks the effect of a recessive allele in a heterozygous condition.
- Recessive Allele: An allele whose effects are hidden or masked by a dominant allele; expressed only when homozygous.
- Homozygous: A genotype consisting of two identical alleles for a specific trait.
- Heterozygous: A genotype with two different alleles for a particular trait.
Genetic Composition
- Genotype: The genetic constitution of an organism, representing the alleles present.
- Phenotype: The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by both genotype and environment.
Tools for Genetic Analysis
- Punnett Square: A diagrammatic tool used to predict the outcome of genetic crosses by showing all possible allele combinations.
- Codominance: A genetic scenario where neither allele is dominant or recessive, leading to the expression of both traits in the phenotype.
Theoretical Framework
- Chromosome Theory of Inheritance: The principle that genes are located on chromosomes and are passed to offspring through these structures during reproduction.
Biological Processes
- Reproduction: The biological process by which new individuals are generated from parent organisms, ensuring the continuation of species.
- Zygote: The initial cell formed when a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell, representing the earliest stage of development.
- Meiosis: A special type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, crucial for the formation of gametes.
Nucleic Acids and Their Functions
- RNA (Ribonucleic Acid): A vital molecule involved in various biological roles, especially in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.
- mRNA (Messenger RNA): A form of RNA that carries the genetic information copied from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.
- tRNA (Transfer RNA): A type of RNA that transports amino acids to the ribosome, where they are assembled into proteins.
Genetic Variability
- Mutation: Any permanent alteration in the DNA sequence of a gene or chromosome, which can lead to changes in traits and may contribute to genetic diversity.
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Description
Explore key concepts in genetics with these flashcards. From traits to heredity, and the foundational work of Gregor Mendel, dive deeper into the fascinating world of heredity and its scientific study. Perfect for students looking to enhance their understanding of genetics.